This was revealed during the harvesting of a 15-hectare Nerica rice field cultivated by the community. Speaking to our correspondent in NBR, Marokey Gassama, the president of Jokadu Dasilami women?s group in Jokadu District, said the availability of rice will contribute to food security and also empower household heads to concentrate on income generated activities, hence  contribute to poverty reduction.  She hailed the tremendous contribution of women farmers in promoting the valuable initiatives of The Gambia Rice Project and for ensuring that food is available throughout the year. She urged their male counterparts to expand their farming methods by venturing into rice cultivation so as to attain food security. 

Gassama thanked the district agricultural officer, Manka Sillah, for his steadfastness in the transfer of appropriate skills and knowledge on best farming practices to farmers, with special emphasis on Nerica production. For his part, Manka Sillah, the district agricultural officer for Kuntair Circuit, applauded farmers of Jokadu for responding to President Jammeh?s back-to-the-land call, by diversifying their farming practices. He said that The Gambia Rice Project is a four-year project undertaken by government with full support from the Taiwanese Technical Mission in order to boost food production.  

Sillah urged men to come in large numbers to support women in the drive to attain food security with more focus on rice cultivation. He said Jokadu this year would witness bumper harvest of rice and groundnut. He finally called on farmers to collect quality seeds and seek advice from extension agents on seed treatment to avoid infestation. Alhaji Kebba Kamu Fofana and Imam Afang Fakebba Fofana both from Jokadu, thanked President Jammeh and the Taiwanese government for empowering rural farmers to actively participate in rice production.